The Settling of Scores

Chapter 27

            Priscilla spent the morning on the tour of Warrick Abbey, which they really, only saw a very small portion of the many rooms, around twenty in all. The collection of  tapestries, furniture along with other decorations took years to amass by the previous dukes and their families. And the paintings...it boggled the mind to think what value was amassed in the old masters paintings Priscilla saw hanging on the walls of only the few rooms they visited.

            One bedchamber was named the Queen's Chamber, with several past queen's and the present Queen Victoria having slept there while she was still a princess. It was in green silks with ornate furniture made for Louis XIV of France. No one but royalty ever used the room, Amanda, told them. Priscilla wondered if just once Amanda and Devlyn slept in the room. She knew she would if the Abbey were hers.

            Priscilla's favorite was the theatre with its marble stage, which rose almost four feet off the main floor; along each side were boxed seats, two tiers of them, and in the middle regular seating. The room was in creams and light blues and Priscilla thought how wonderful it would be to grow up here as a child and put on your own plays. She could see the triplets in a few years up on stage performing some cute skit for their parents.

            Before the men returned, most of the ladies visited the nursery to see the two new arrivals and the triplets. Nanny Ferguson stood watch over the nursery like some over protective mother bear and ushered everyone out when the babies and toddlers became tired and fussy.

            Priscilla was given the chance to hold and rock little Trevor Crofton. He was the sweetest little baby and smiled at her before closing his eyes and nodding off to sleep. What she wouldn't give for one, Priscilla thought, as they left the nursery.

            They were coming down the staircase when the men returned laughing at something one of them said before they entered the Abbey. Warrick probably enjoyed showing off his estate, Priscilla surmised, since all the men except Sir Humphrey went riding. He stayed with Wolverleigh's two aunts and the Countess of Galloway and declined the Abbey tour as well.

            Avery waited for her at the bottom of the stairs then took her arm and led her toward the drawing room. He smelled of outdoors, horse and Avery, she noticed, as they followed the others to the drawing room.

            "Well did you enjoy your morning tour of the Abbey?" he asked her as they waited their turn to receive a cup of tea.

            "Yes and each room we saw was more beautiful then the one before it. Did you know there is even a theatre here?" she told him. "How was your morning ride?"

            "Cold but it felt good to ride in the fresh air. The snow is about three to four inches deep in places. Jamie and his friends enjoyed pelting us with snowballs. He has several friends spending Christmas with him from Eton."

            "I was wondering where he was last night?" she said.

            "Last night they had their dinner in Jamie's suite but from tonight on they will be joining us at dinner table. Devlyn said he wasn't going to miss spending as much time as he could with his son while he was here for the holidays. I think he misses the boy more than he thought he would, even though it was his idea for Jamie to attend Eton this year."

            "Did Jamie say how his voyage went with Captain Cameron? He was looking forward to it when I was staying with them."

            "Oh, Myles showed Jamie a great time as always. Now Jamie's new friends want to know if Myles would consider taking them all next summer with him."